Banners said: “Rio does not welcome Mahmoud Ahmadinejad” and “Iranians we love you”.

The gay and Jewish protesters reportedly chanted “Ahmadinejad out of Brazil” along Ipanema beach.

Michel Gherman, head of the Hillel Jewish human rights movement said he was present “to criticize [Mr Ahmadinejad’s] hateful speech denying the Holocaust as well as the persecution of homosexuals and Bahais”.

Claudio Nascimento et Joao Silva, the first gay couple recognized by Rio authorities, said they were compelled to attend as gay people are still “jailed and sentenced to death” in Iran.